On October 5, SM Entertainment released a statement saying that Lee Soo Man, the founder of SM Entertainment, had lost his wife. Kim Eun Jin passed away due to small intestine cancer.

Kim Eun Jin was diagnosed with the illness in 2012, and received chemotherapy treatment as well as surgery. "Lee Soo Man was by her side day and night immediately after the cancer was discovered until the moment of her death," SM Entertainment stated in an official statement.

After battling the illness for two years, Kim Eun Jin passed away on September 30.

The funeral was held on October 2.

Lee Soo Man's wife was rarely seen in Korean media, despite her husband's high profile as the founder of SM Entertainment and as one of the originators of the current K-Pop idol system.

The couple met when Lee Soo Man studied in the United States, prior to returning to South Korea and setting up SM Entertainment in 1989. They had two sons together.

Korean netizens commented their sentiments and well wishes to Lee Soo Man, along with messages of "rest in peace."

Lee Soo Man is one of the most popular Korean entertainment businessmen, and he is responsible for SM Entertainment's first K-Pop acts.

Whenever there are internal struggles in the company, Korean netizens call for Lee Soo Man to return to a more hands-on position at SM. One of the comments criticizes Jessica (formerly of Girls' Generation) for causing a scandal at the company at the very same time that Lee Soo Man is going through such hardships.

KpopStarz offers our condolences to Lee Soo Man, his sons, and Kim Eun Jin's family members and friends.